Sons look for 'closure' in 40-year-old missing person case | UPDATE

The search for Francis Harris

On Monday (Nov. 19), OPP announced that new information had come to light regarding the 1972 disappearance of the lifelong Apsley resident Francis Harris, wife to Stanley Harris and mother to Mr. Harris, Mr. Fontaine and Faye Martin. She went missing April 21, 1972 at the age of 45. OPP officers did ground-penetrating radar on land adjacent to Apsley Veterinary Services Monday on Monday, allowing them to locate the foundation of the old home, which burnt down in the 1990s. On Tuesday (Nov. 20), officers were digging up the property with the help of family.

(APSLEY) Forty years after their mother’s disappearance, Rod Harris and Herb Fontaine watch on as excavation begins on the property of their Harris family home.
A part of Mr. Fontaine hopes that the OPP search and rescue team doesn’t find his mother’s remains, but he’s willing to face reality.
“If there’s something here, we can get closure on this and go on with our lives,” he says.
On Monday (Nov. 19), OPP announced that new information had come to light regarding the 1972 disappearance of the lifelong Apsley resident Francis Harris, wife to Stanley Harris and mother to Mr. Harris, Mr. Fontaine and Faye Martin. She went missing April 21, 1972 at the age of 45.
Peterborough County OPP say no one has heard from Mrs. Harris or seen her since and new information has led them to believe that foul play was involved.
“She vanished virtually into thin air,” says Sergeant Peter Leon, Central Region OPP media relations officer.
“It (any information) could be very valuable and provide a turning point that assists with determining what happened, where she could be and, most importantly, could bring some closure to the family. There’s a family, children and a husband, and they’re without a wife and mother respectively. It’s important that we find answers to these questions.”
OPP officers did ground-penetrating radar on land adjacent to Apsley Veterinary Services Monday, allowing them to locate the foundation of the old home, which burnt down in the 1990s. On Tuesday (Nov. 20), officers were digging up the property with the help of family.
“It is pretty hard and it brings back a lot of memories,” says Mr. Fontaine.
“We had a lot fun together.”
Mr. Harris is hoping to find some answers to questions that have been haunting him since age 13.
“It’s been a long ride for the last 40 years,” he said.
“We definitely need some closure.”
He added that his father Stanley won’t talk about the case or have anything to do with the investigation.
Mr. Harris has his own theories of what delayed the case being solved.
“I think a lot of people were scared because it’s a small community,” he says explaining that he believes that more than one person was involved in his mother’s disappearance.
“There’s speculation that something happened to her and she is here and I firmly believe that too in my heart.”
Mr. Harris describes his mother as a good hard-working person who looked after her house and her children.
“She loved her kids; she loved her parents and she loved her brothers and sisters,” he adds.
“She was a good woman and she doesn’t deserve this fate.”
The OPP team is working in conjunction with Peterborough County OPP and OPP Criminal Investigation Branch. The search for Mrs. Harris could take several days and police are requesting the assistance of the public in regards to this missing person investigation and anyone with information is requested to contact the Peterborough County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police at 705-742-0401 or 1-888-310-1122.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, contact Peterborough Northumberland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or you can submit your information online at www.stopcrimehere.ca.tvandonk@mykawartha.com